A familiar face is on his way back to Chicago - just not in the way Bulls fans first imagined.
Taj Gibson, after being part of a recent trade to the New Orleans Pelicans and then waived, is retiring from the NBA and moving straight into coaching. Shams Charania first reported that Gibson will join the Bulls’ new staff under Tiago Splitter as an assistant, and K.C. Johnson later confirmed the news for Chicago Sports Network.
That closes the book on Gibson’s playing career, which stretched across 17 seasons and included plenty of stops, but it also opens a new chapter with the franchise where he became a fixture. The Bulls drafted him 26th overall in the 2009 NBA Draft out of USC, and he quickly turned into one of the most trusted role players on a team that found real success in the early 2010s.
For just under eight full seasons in Chicago, Gibson carved out a reputation built on steady production and nonstop effort. In 562 games with the Bulls, he averaged 9.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks. More than the numbers, though, it was the way he played that made him such a popular figure: energy, toughness, and dependable two-way work every night.
That kind of game kept him around for a long time. Gibson followed Tom Thibodeau to the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks, then went on to play for the Wizards, Pistons, Hornets, and Grizzlies. In the later stages of his career, he became the kind of veteran teams leaned on for leadership, even as his minutes shrank.
Chicago now gets him back in a different role, and the timing fits. With Splitter stepping in and the team in transition, Gibson gives the Bulls another respected former player on the bench. The source also pointed to the potential value of having him around for Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson at the wing position.
Gibson has not yet publicly confirmed the coaching move, but he did post a long farewell to his playing days on social media. In it, he wrote:
Today is a very emotional day for me.After 17 seasons in the NBA, I can honestly say I gave this game everything I had.Basketball gave me the opportunity to live a dream. As a kid from Brooklyn, NY, I was lucky to get a chance to display my talent on the biggest stage.
From Fort Greene Projects to USC, to the Chicago Bulls , and every team and city that came after, I’m grateful for every moment, every teammate, every coach, and every person who believed in me.I wanted to be the guy my teammates could count on someone who brought toughness, energy, leadership, and heart every time I stepped on the court.To my family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, my agent, the NBA , NBPA and the fans, thank you. You were all a part of this journey.But this isn’t goodbye to Basketball.
It’s the beginning of a new chapter.After 31 years of basketball, I can walk away with no regrets, knowing I left everything on the floor. God has truly blessed me.Thank you Basketball
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